our highway department

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 The law requiring the depositing of snow in highways, shoulders, or ditches, is as follows:  Section 1219 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law and Section 214 of the Highway Law of New York State specifically prohibits the placing or leaving of snow, ice or any other substance upon any highway, which includes pavement, shoulders and ditches.  As a result, should these practices occur, police agencies will be notified of such occurrence with the intent that a summons will be issued to the responsible person or persons.  Also, any vehicles left on the side of the road will be towed at the owners expense since they hamper snow removal.  Pushing snow across highways is illegal and violators will be prosecuted.
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 During and after significant snow storms, highway agencies, in the course of plowing, often receive phone calls regarding damage to mailboxes either from snow plows directly or from the force of snow being thrown by the plows.  If such damage is caused by snow removal, it is not done intentionally but is an unfortunate consequence of snow removal.  As far as the particular agencies replacing damaged mailboxes, it must be pointed out that there is no statute or legal authority which grants a property owner or resident along a public highway any right to place a mailbox in a highway right-of-way.
That the mailbox is on town, county, or state right of way is a courtesy to the postal service.  Thus when the necessity of keeping the highway open conflicts with mail delivery and receipt, the latter must stand aside.  The owner might even be compelled to remove the box under Highway Law #319.  From past experience, we have found the plastic mailboxes do not withstand the abuse of snow from the plows hitting them and are not recommended.  For suggested installation of your mailbox where snow removal is a problem, please contact our town highway department.